Electromagnetically triggered, responsive gel based drug delivery device
First Claim
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1. A system for remotely inducing a phase transition in a gel, comprising:
- a gel comprising a cross-linked network of polymers swollen in solvent which gel is capable of a phase transition in response to an environmental stimulus;
a magnetic or electromagnetic receptor in contact with said gel; and
means for generating a time-varying magnetic field or an electromagnetic field, respectively, in proximity of said gel to produce said environmental stimulus.
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Abstract
A system for remotely inducing a phase transition in a gel is provided. The system includes a gel capable of volume change in response to an environmental stimulus, a seed material in contact with the gel, and generating a time-varying magnetic or a time-varying electric or electromagnetic field in the proximity of the gel to produce the environmental stimulus. In a preferred embodiment, the environmental stimulus is temperature.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system for remotely inducing a phase transition in a gel, comprising:
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a gel comprising a cross-linked network of polymers swollen in solvent which gel is capable of a phase transition in response to an environmental stimulus; a magnetic or electromagnetic receptor in contact with said gel; and means for generating a time-varying magnetic field or an electromagnetic field, respectively, in proximity of said gel to produce said environmental stimulus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of remotely inducing a phase transition in a gel, comprising:
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selecting a gel comprising a cross-linked network of polymers swollen in solvent which gel is capable of a phase transition in response to an environmental stimulus, said gel is placed in contact with a magnetic receptor; and applying a time-varying magnetic field in proximity of said gel, said magnetic field generating a response in said magnetic receptor, thereby providing the environmental stimulus which induces said gel to undergo a phase transition. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification